Former Bears top pick hit with felony drug charges

David Terrell was arrested on drug charges, for manufacturing and delivery of cannabis, and misdemeanor battery of two police officers.

David Terrell was arrested on drug charges, for manufacturing and delivery of cannabis, and misdemeanor battery of two police officers. (Chicago Police Dept.)

By Rosemary Regina SobolTribune reporter

David Terrell, a former first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears, is accused of hitting two police officers as he was being arrested on drug charges Friday on the South Side, authorities said.

Police say the officers were responding to a call of people smoking marijuana around 1:30 p.m. Friday when they found Terrell and two others in an apartment in the 3900 block of South Calumet Avenue in the Bronzeville neighborhood.

"In plain view were multiple items including cannabis and equipment to package it and other such narcotics. That included heat-sealing machines and baggies typically used to package, sell and use narcotics," said Chicago Police Department News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli.

"As officers were conducting an interview, Terrell struck an officer's hand by reaching over the top of the door and hitting the officer, injuring him," Mirabelli said. Terrell is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds, according to court records.

As he was being placed into custody, Terrell tried to "defeat" the arrest and "in doing so, he caused injury to the hand of a second police officer," Mirabelli said.

Terrell, 35, was charged with manufacture and delivery of cannabis, a felony, and misdemeanor battery, Mirabelli said. The other two people were also arrested. Bail was set at $20,000 for Terrell on Saturday.

Terrell was drafted by the Bears in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, arriving from the University of Michigan. He played four seasons with the Bears and one game with the Denver Broncos in 2005, finishing his career with 128 receptions and 9 touchdowns.

Terrell was charged with domestic battery in April of 2012. Police said he grabbed his girlfriend at his 33rd-floor apartment in the 1700 block of South Michigan Avenue during an argument. "I'll throw you off the balcony and say you jumped," he allegedly threatened.

The woman, who was 25 at the time, suffered injuries to her upper arms, chest and neck, authorities said. An order of protection was issued but the domestic battery charge was dismissed in October after the witness did not appear in court, records show.

The Chicago Cubs on Tuesday sought City Hall permission to expand construction hours at Wrigley Field, with bleacher work falling well behind schedule on the team's $375 million ballpark renovation project.